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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1,

E. & H. G. STOGKWELL.

TIME LOOK MECHANISM. No. 479,379. Patented July 19, 1892.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

E. 81: H. G. STOOKWELL TIME LOOK MBOHANISM.

Patented July 19,1892.

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(No Model.) I.

E. & H. G. STOOKWELL. TIME LOOK MECHANISM.

Patented July 19, 1892.

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(No Model.)

E..&H; G. STOCKWELL. TIME LOOK MECHANISM. No. 479,379 Patented July 19, 1892.

Q g 1/ I Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMORY STOOKWELL AND HERBERT O. STOCKWELL, OF STAMFORD, CON- N ECTIOUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE YALE & TOWNE MANUFACTURING COM- PANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TIME-LOCK MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 479,379, dated July 19, 1892.

Application filed November 13, 1891. Serial No. 411,829. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EMORY SrooKwELL and HERBERT C. SrocKwELL, of Stamford, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time -Lock Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention has for its object a lock designed to use a plurality of movements, the movements and connecting mechanism being so designed that any desired number of movements can be readily placed in one case, so as to be operatively connected with the dog for ordinary boltwork or with the tripping mechanism of an automatic bolt-operating device. The connecting mechanism between the time-movements and the device, whatever that may be, which is actuated thereby, is specially designed to avoid unnecessary friction, and further, so that the lock cannot be opened by jarring nor by tilting or overturning the safe.

In view of the greatincrease in the security of safes and the difficulty of opening them, especially when a bolt-operating device is used, so that there is no spindle or other hole through the door, it is especially desirable that every possible precaution against lockoutand derangement of the locking mechanism should be taken, and still more that the mechanism should not be liable to be jarred open in any manner. Our lock has also the important advantages that all the locking mechanism and connecting mechanism is mounted upon a block or frame, and this block is placed in a case and mounted upon springs or cushions, so that the entire mechanism of the lock may be said to be floating with reference to the door. Therefore no jar or concussion upon the door will in any wise derange the mechanism unless the concussion is suflicient to practically destroy the door. In our construction the case acts simply as a protection against dirt and against interference with the operation of the mechanism by attack or by contact with any foreign substance or with the contents of the safe. The case merely covers and supports the mechanism on the cushion-studs. A preferable construction is to provide a solid block in which recesses are formed, said recesses being as deep as the time-movements are thick, so that when the latter are in place they will be flush with the front face of the block and fit in the recesses in the block accurately; but instead of the block suitable framework may be used, this particular detail of construction not being essential to our invention.

An important practical advantage which arises from our construction is that, inasmuch as all the time and connecting mechanism is attached to said block or frame, all of this mechanism can be removed bodily from the case by unscrewing the four cornerscrews, and after the lock-case has been attached to the door the time and connecting mechanism can be as readily replaced. In former constructions where it has been necessary to disconnect some of the mechanism before the movements could be taken out and the case attached to the door there has been more or less danger that the mechanism in unskillful hands would become disarranged; but our construction practically obviates this danger.

Broadly speaking, the intermediate connecting or unlocking mechanism consists of two bars, preferably parallel, which are carried by levers pivoted to the block. The up-- per bar is actuated by the time-movements, or any one of them, and its motion causes the parallel motion of the other bar, which in turn actuates a dog or tripping device, as the case may be. This intermediate mechanism is balanced with reference to the screws or studs, upon which it is pivoted on the block, so that a jar or overturning of the safe will not tend to cause motion of the unlocking-bar, and thus prematurely unlock the safe.

In addition to the protection which the balanced mechanism gives against premature unlocking, we use a light spring, which tends to hold the mechanism in the locked position, this spring not being strong enough to interfere with the operation of the time-movements in any way,but being an absolute preventative against premature unlocking by jarring or otherwise.

All the movements of the connecting mech- IOC anism are pivotal, as distinguished from sliding movements, so that the frictional resistance, and therefore the labor upon the timemovements, is lessened, and the liability of any obstruction causing the lock to stick is also reduced.

In View of the greatly-increased strength of modern safes and vaults, the desirability of providing against any trouble from lockout owing to failure of the unlocking mechanism is correspondingly increased. Accordingly it is desirable, whenever possible, to duplicate the operating mechanism. Ne have provided double connections between the upper bar, which is actuated directly by the time-movements and the unlocking-bar. Connections of this sort sometimes fail from the backing out of a screw, and it only a single connection is provided such failure might be disastrous. The double connection which we have provided we therefore consider an important improvement; and a further advantage of our construction is that the considerable length of the lower bar allows great latitude in the position of the automatic boltoperating device, which may be operatively connected with the lower bar at any convenient point without the interposition of any intermediate piece.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the lock-case closed and showing its contents through its glazed covering. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, with some of the interior parts dotted in. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same, showing some of the interior parts dotted in. Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing the block detached from the case, the case open, and the block in position as if about to be incased. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 in Fig. 1, drawn on a smaller scale. Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the intermediate connecting mechanism 'detached. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of part of the primary unlocking-bar detached and its hinged part swung open. This figure also shows some of the connected parts. Fig. Sis a plan view of the under side of the hinged part of the unlocking-bar. Fig. 9 is an end view of the unlocking-bar, showing the hinged part open and in the position it will occupy normally when the connected parts are in the locked position. Fig. 10 is a section, on a larger scale, of one end of one part of the unlocking-bar and the spring and spring-rod which it carries. Fig. 11 is a view of the under side of the hinged part of the unlockingbar, showing springs attached to the bar and in dotted lines indicating connected parts. Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 7, except showing the parts in different positions,the hinged part of the unlocking-bar being closed in this instance. Fig. 13 is aview of the primary unlocking-bar, viewed from the side 011 which its hinges are. This figure illustrates how the two parts of the unlocking-bar are bowed, so

I as to tend to spring apart.

Referring to the letters upon the drawings,

A indicates an ordinary lock-case having a hinged cover B. This lock-case is provided with spring studs 0, upon which cushion springs D are placed on opposite sides of the block E when it is in position in the case, as well shown in Figs. 3 and 5, so that the block and all the mechanism secured to it is amply cushioned within the case front and back. The block E is provided with a series of recesses F for the reception of independent tiniemovements. It is alsoprovided with holes G to receive the spring-studs C.

1-] H indicate levers pivoted to the block at I I and having pivoted on their opposite ends a primary unlockingbar K and a secondary unlocking-bar K.

L L L indicate three time movements. (Shown in outline in Fig.1 as in place within the recesses in the block.) Each one of these time-movements, which need not be described in detail,because they are not new,is provided, as usual, with a tripping-pin M, whose office is, when moved by the operation of the time mechanism, to operate the intermediate unlocking mechanism, so as to release boltwork. (Not illustrated.)

The primary unlocking-bar K is composed of two parts, the outside part being pivoted to the upper ends of the levers H H. This outside part is provided at one end with a spring-rod N, which bears against the lockcase, as shown in Fig. 1, and tends to prevent the bar K from moving in the directionfor causing unlocking. The spring 0 of this rod is not strong enough to stop the operation of a single time-movement or to retard it, but is strong enough to prevent the movement by concussion of other abnormal means of the primary unlocking-bar and its pivotally-connected movable mechanism. The inner part of the primary unlocking-bar K is hinged to the outer part, as shown, and is provided on its inner face with a series of spring-stops, inclines, notches, and shoulders, each set of the series adapted to operate in connection with each time-movement and all being alike.

P indicates a projection from the block. Two of these projections are shown, andeach has the same function, which is to normally engage with a notch in the hinged part of the.

bar K when the bar is in the locked position and to prevent it from moving to the unlocked position. To efiect an engagement between these projections and the notches on the hinged part of the bar, we make the two parts of the bar of resilient metal and bend them in the middle slightly toward each other ontheir hinged edges, so that they will be bowed jections might be sufficient, but for greater security we employ two.

While the special construction of spring above described is very good, it is obvious IIO pin M continues its course and impinges against a lug or rib S upon the hinged part, and gradually moves the bar K in the direction ofthe arrow, Fig. 6, and thus operates the intermediate tripping or unlocking mechanismby turning the levers H H on their pivots.

T indicates a spring or stop, which is secured to the hinged part of the bar K, and is provided with an inclined or angular part U.

If there were no provision such as the,

spring-rod N the intermediate mechanism might by some kind of shock be caused to move in the direction for unlocking faster than the pin M would propel it. In that event a depository might be prematurely opened. The spring-rod N tends to prevent this; but in addition to that provision for safety we employ the spring or stop T. The angular orinclined part of this stop stands opposite the pin M as soon as the pin has passed along the incline and impinged against the rib V, so that should any force be applied sufficient to prematurely move the bar K in the direction for unlocking the spring T would hear by its incline against the pin M and stop the movement of the bar, thus preventing unlocking until the time predetermined for the completion of the function of the time-lock.

can move without obstruction except by the cushions above described about as freely as if suspended, and every shock received will have the same effect as if received by one solid cushioned piece.

The bar K is made of such form as to completely cover the openings W in the lock-case. (See Figs. 1 and 6, where it is shown as substantially T-shaped, with openings in the cov-v ering part X for the levers H H to pass through, the levers being pivoted to the projecting part Y.)

What we claim is 1. In a time-lock, a block or frame carrying As the pin is moved in its curvi the time-movements and the operative mechanism of the lock,'in combination with a case, which is secured to the door and supports said block on cushioned studs, so that the entire operative mechanism is free to move with reference to the case and may be removed therefrom without derangement, substantially as set forth.

2. In a time-lock, the combination of time mechanism, a primary unlocking bar, a secondary unlocking-bar, pivotal connections between the two bars, and a dog or other device to be actuated or unlocked,the arrangement being that the time mechanism engages with the primary unlocking-bar, and said bar acts through the pivotal connections upon the secondary unlocking-bar, and the secondary unlocking-bar acts upon a dog or other device to be actuated, substantially as described.

3. In a time-lock, in combination with time mechanism, an unlocking-bar K, composed of two parts hinged together, provided with a spring tending to keep them apart, substantially as described.

4:. In a time-lock, the combination of time mechanism and bars K K, of theprojections P, the bar K beingcomposed of two parts and its hinged part being provided with notches for engagement with the projections, substantially as set forth.

5. In a time-lock, the combination, with time-movements, of the pin M, the primary unlocking-bar K, composed of two parts and provided with an incline R and with a lug or rib S, substantially as set forth.

6. In a time-lock, the combination, with the lock-case havingopenings with connecting mechanism and a secondary unlocking-bar adapted to cover said openings in the case, substantially as set forth.

7. In a time-lock, the combination, with time-movements and primary and secondary unlocking-bars K and K, of pivoted connecting-levers between the bars and connecting the bars with the time-movements, substantially as set forth.

8. In a time-lock, the combination of a timemovement and a primary unlocking-bar, with which it engages, and a secondary unlockingbar actuated by the primary bar, and two or more pivoted parallel connecting-levers supporting said bar, substantially as set forth.

9. In a time-lock, a primary unlocking-bar having a movable section and a rib or proj ection in the lock, with which such movable section tends to engage, whereby the bar cannot be moved in the direction for unlocking until the time-movements are properly operated, substantially as set forth.

10. In a time-lock, a block or frame held in place within the lock-case upon studs fastened to the inside of said case with cushionsprings both in front and rear of said block, said block being also provided with a plural ity of recesses, each to receive separate self contained movements, so that said block and the movements may be bodily removed'from time-movements and a device to be unlocked thereby, of balanced connecting mechanism between the time-movements and the device I 5 to be unlocked, substantially as described.

In testimony of all which we have hereunto subscribed our names.

EMORY STOCKWELL. HERBERT C. STOCKWELL.

Witnesses:

SCHUYLER MERRITT, GEO. E. WHITE. 

